Councillors
Elections
Hornsby Shire Council has a total of 10 Councillors, which includes the Mayor and nine other Councillors - three Councillors elected from each of three Wards.
On 8 September 2012 Local Government Elections were held across NSW. Enrolled residents and ratepayers of Hornsby Shire voted to elect a Mayor and Councillors to be appointed for the next Council term until 2016.
A register of declarations by Councillors of disclosures of political donations is maintained by the Election Funding Authority. This information is provided in accordance with Section 328A of the Local Government Act and as advised by the NSW Department of Local Government.
Mayor
Steve Russell
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6604
Mobile: 0409 735 313
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: srussell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Steve Russell has lived in and around Hornsby Shire for over 30 years because he believes Hornsby Shire is a great place to live. Steve is employed in a senior managerial role after selling his own business of 26 years in 2000.
He was elected to Hornsby Council in 1999 and served until 2004. For the four years from 2004 he concentrated on his business career. Steve was re-elected to Council in 2008 as an A Ward representative. In 2012 he was elected to Council as the popularly elected Mayor.
Steve wants to encourage more business activity throughout the Shire because he recognises the positive knock-on effects of local job creation and a strong local economy. He also recognises the potential of the Hornsby CBD and other town centres and wants to realise that potential to ensure the centres are vibrant exciting places. He believes there is an urgent need for workable plans for Hornsby’s ‘Westside’ and will work towards developing those plans.
Steve is a great advocate for the rural area and the many sporting clubs in the Shire. He was part of the team that successfully sought additional funding to improve and upgrade local facilities including drainage, sportsgrounds and ovals, and has pledged to deliver many more improvements to local facilities during this term of Council.
Ward A
Ward A suburbs include Arcadia, Asquith*, Berrilee, Berowra, Brooklyn, Canoelands, Castle Hill*, Cowan, Dangar Island, Dural*, Fiddletown, Forest Glen, Galston, Glenhaven*, Glenorie, Hornsby*, Hornsby Heights, Laughtondale, Maroota, Middle Dural, Mt Colah, Mt Kuring-gai, Singletons Mill, Wahroonga*, Waitara*, Wiseman’s Ferry.
* These suburbs are split by the ward boundary so are listed under two different wards.
Cr Mick Gallagher
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0418 112 675
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: mgallagher@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Mick Gallagher served as a Councillor on Hornsby Shire Council from 1991 to 1995 including the positions of Deputy Mayor in 1994 and Mayor in 1995. After 17 years Mick was re-elected to Council as an A Ward representative in 2012.
Mick joined the Royal Australian Navy at age 16 and had a long naval career that saw him travel to many places including, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Since then he has also visited Canada, the USA (including Alaska & Hawaii), the Cook Islands, Tahiti, Fiji, UK, Ireland, France, Morocco, Turkey, India and Kenya.
Mick now lives in Mt Colah having retired from a full time naval career, and is an active member of the Neighbourhood Watch Program in the area. He is also a guest journalist with the local news publication The Bush Telegraph Weekly.
Mick is well known for his proactive role in the community having supported a wide variety of local activities including fundraising and other campaigns.
Cr Nathan Tilbury
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0403 227 560
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: ntilbury@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Nathan Tilbury was born in Hornsby Hospital in 1971 and grew up in Berowra. In his mid twenties he left the area to reside overseas, returning in 2005. He lives in Hornsby with his partner and two daughters. He brought his family to the Hornsby Shire because of its unique bushland, proximity to city, strong sense of community and sense of safety.
Nathan is the National Sales & Marketing Manager of a mid sized ($25 million pa) family owned, plastic injection moulding manufacturing company based in south western Sydney.
He is well known for his contribution to local sporting groups, and was previously the President of Berowra Cricket Club and is current President of Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai & Hills District Cricket Association (4,000 members). Nathan is also current Chairman if Northern Metropolitan Cricket Council. His involvement with local groups has given him a strong understanding of local issues and concerns.
Nathan was elected to Council in 2012 as an A Ward representative. His priorities for this term of Council include:
- Pursuing opportunities for more sporting facilities in key areas such as Pennant Hills and the Shire’s north.
- Ensuring northern part of Hornsby Shire gets its fair share of attention.
- Resolving perennial local problems such as replacement of the George Street pedestrian bridge in Hornsby and the Hornsby Quarry situation.
- Preserving the quality of the Hawkesbury River and protecting the river from pollution and over fishing.
- Ensuring appropriate development is accompanied by suitable infrastructure
- Working closely with other levels of government to achieve more for the shire
- Ensuring Hornsby Shire Council has sound financial management and works effectively
Cr Antony Anisse
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0419 256 887
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: aanisse@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Antony Anisse grew up in Hornsby Shire and continues to live in the area. He and his family appreciate both the bushland characteristics of the area and the proximity to various town centres, making the Shire a truly unique place to live.
Antony considers the Shire has some of the best sporting and recreational facilities in Sydney, and as a keen sportsman he has enjoyed making full use of all these facilities, and he hopes to work towards establishing many more.
He has been actively involved in local church, school and sports groups with an emphasis on promoting multiculturalism together with providing young people with the opportunity to engage with the community through cultural and sporting events.
Antony studied Economics and Law at Macquarie University and is now a corporate lawyer with TressCox Lawyers. He was elected to Council as an A Ward representative in September 2012, and his priorities for his term in office are:
- To incorporate his professional skills into the review and refinement of Council’s policy framework
- To focus upon the reduction of unnecessary expenditure and encourage efficiency which will ultimately result in benefits being provided back to the residents of the Hornsby Shire
- To engage in strategic planning with the community to improve and provide necessary infrastructure
- To enhance programs for small businesses, working families, the aged and young people
Ward B
Ward B suburbs include Asquith*, Castle Hill,* Cherrybrook*, Dural*, Glenhaven*, Hornsby*, Normanhurst*, Pennant Hills*, Thornleigh*, Wahroonga*, Waitara*, Westleigh.
* These suburbs are split by the ward boundary so are listed under two different wards.
Cr Nick Berman
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0422 021 031
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: nberman@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Nick Berman was first elected to Hornsby Shire Council as a B Ward representative in September 1999. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2008 as the popularly elected Mayor. In 2012 Nick was re-elected as a B ward representative.
He has worked at all levels of government and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with majors in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management.
Nick has lived most of his life in the northern suburbs of Sydney and has always had an active interest in sport. Nick and his family chose to live in Hornsby Shire because of the quality of life the Shire offers local families.
Achievements on Council with which Nick has been associated include: the widening of the Duffy Avenue Bridge; the construction of the Thornleigh Indoor Sports Centre; redeveloping childcare centres in Cherrybrook and Asquith, and further improving local parks and playing fields.
Nick was also the driving force behind the project to seek funding for replacing and repairing local facilities and services, including replacing the Hornsby Aquatic Centre.
Cr Robert Browne (Deputy Mayor)
Address: PO Box 460, Pennant Hills NSW 1715
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0434 568 828
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: rbrowne@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Robert was born locally and has lived in our Shire for over 50 years. He has had an extensive career mostly in the Banking and Accountancy professions and has also served our community in various capacities for more than 20 years. Robert is now semi-retired.
Robert has been re-elected to Council on a number of occasions since 1999 representing C Ward. At the 2012 election, Robert was successful in his bid to represent the residents of B Ward. He has previously served a term as Mayor and Deputy Mayor and has been an active chair and member of many important committees particularly in the areas of environment and sustainability, finance, development, heritage, community and cultural facilities, roads and transport, employment and infrastructure facilities. He has been Chairman of Council's Heritage Advisory Committee for many years.
Robert is a strong advocate for resident’s rights and amenity. Whilst supporting progressive solutions for tough problems, he will continue to encourage input and participation from our community. He strongly believes in the development of a long-term vision for our Shire through greater emphasis on forward planning within the framework of a sustainable future.
His priorities for this term are many. The most challenging includes the speedy completion on budget of the new Hornsby Aquatic Centre, Council finances, housing and employment strategies, Hornsby Quarry, North West Rail Link and Pennant Hills Road. Topmost on his mind are the development of more community, cultural, green space and sporting facilities as well as continuing to pursue State and Federal Governments for infrastructure needs as the result of population pressures.
Cr Gurdeep Singh
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0424 071 174
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: gsingh@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Gurdeep Singh is a civil engineer and has had an independent practice for over 21 years. Gudeep is also an active life member of the Council of Indian Australians, a life member of the Australian Sikh Association and a Vice President of the Indian Australian Association of New South Wales, and is perhaps the first Sikh in Australia to be endorsed by the Liberal Party to contest an election.
When he came to Australia 21 years ago he chose to live in the Hornsby Shire for its good quality of life, the bushland setting, the proximity to good schools and the good transport links.
Gurdeep Singh was elected to Council as a B Ward representative in September 2012. His vision for the Shire is to improve liveability while preserving local heritage, and improve local services and facilities. He is also keen to cut red tape and ensure Council’s processes are effective and efficient.
Ward C
Ward C suburbs include Beecroft, Carlingford, Cheltenham, Cherrybrook*, Eastwood, Epping, Normanhurst*, North Epping, Pennant Hills*, Thornleigh*, West Pennant Hills.
* These suburbs are split by the ward boundary so are listed under two different wards.
Cr Michael Hutchence
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0466 008 375
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: mhutchence@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Michael Hutchence has been a resident of Hornsby Shire for over 21 years. He has been educated locally in Carlingford and at Hornsby and is currently studying Business Management at Macquarie University.
In 2008 Michael was elected to Council as an A Ward representative and was re-elected again in 2012.
Michael owns and operates a successful telecommunications and information technology consultancy business servicing clients around the country. Having worked in business from a young age, Michael has developed the organisational and personal skills required to deal with multiple and complex tasks systematically and efficiently.
Michael’s sense of social responsibility is reflected in his desire to make a difference in local government by listening to what people want for their community and translating those wishes into action. Michael is part of the councillor team that oversighted the funding for replacing the Hornsby Aquatic Centre and for maintaining and improving local facilities and services.
Cr Jerome Cox
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: jcox@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Jerome Cox is endorsed by the Liberal Party and was elected to Council in September 2012 as a C Ward representative. The Liberals action plan for Hornsby is:
- Build essential infrastructure and sporting facilities
- Fight inappropriate development
- Cut Council waste
Cr Bernadette Azizi
Address: c/- Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: (02) 9847 6666
Mobile: 0409 365 360
Fax: (02) 9847 6909
Email: info@bernadetteazizi.com.au
Bernadette Azizi has been a resident of Hornsby Shire for 15 years. She has lived with her family in Epping before spending the past 10 years living in Beecroft. Bernadette is married with three children, who currently attend schools in Cheltenham, Beecroft and West Pennant Hills.
Bernadette is an author of teen fiction, and has been speaking and mentoring students in the local community encouraging reading and writing. She is also a proud supporter and sponsor of many charity organisations.
In September 2012 Bernadette was elected to Council as a C Ward representative, and is keen to support safety improvements around schools and sporting venues in the Shire.